Mike, all of that was fine and dandy, but none of that is any help. Look at the amazing number of complaints and the fact that this has been going on for 2 years and nothing has been done. Adjust the pedal is not the solution. My pedal WAS adjusted by the installer after the fact, which is why it felt so awesome at first. Now, it's awful. Sure, I can go adjust the pedal, and it may work at first, but that seems to be just a band-aid. I believe you said you know of no customers who have continued to have this problem after adjusting the pedal, yet many on here in this thread alone have said that it was only a temporary band-aid that stopped working over time. Others have done every clutch mod possible (ss line, restrictor mod, fluid, pedal adjustment) and still get the lockout problem. Still others have had to go so far to get the lockout problem not to work that they have backed out the pedal TOO much and ended up frying the clutch due to the TOB not releasing completely.

So, again, I don't see how my contacting Dirk (which I tried to do, btw, but was refused by his account for whatever reason) would do anything other than add another tick mark in the incredibly long line of people who have had the same problem. If all he can do is suggest that I adjust the pedal, well, that's no more than I can get after searching for 5 seconds on EvoM. The worst part is that they are continuing to manufacture and sell that clutch, then vendors are continuing to resell them knowing that this problem exists (or so it seems from Dirk's email to you). Does this fact not bother you and Dirk, or do you not think that there is a problem to begin with? Unless I'm missing something, it has to be one of the two...

 

I was using ACT clutches since day one (Mar 2004). I got 2 ACT clutches after my stock gone. The first one was premature slipped and I was occasionally got lock out at the drag strip but was not thinking it is the clutch. I thinked it was a bad install by a dealer but "just think" since nothing can prove it. Since I got the clutch, I never able to run good time like I did with the stock at the drag. All my friends watching I ran were seeing that I was always "mess up" shipping at the end of the run by not shift into 4th gear fast enough. They were like "what's up dude, what happened when you were almost there?". I told them I can't shift into 4th gear but I know people will think that is just "an excuse".

I got the second ACT and this time I made sure it's installed by the shop I trust, RRE. I took it to the drag after a good amount of break-in miles. Initially, I was crunching into 4th gear (not smoothly) and eventually got lock out again. Scott helped me adjust the clutch right at the drag and it was better in the next run (no lock out but crunch into 4th gear). At the road couse, I was getting lock out too if I try to shift too fast.

Since most of others seem to be ok with the ACT clucth so I can't get any attention and got no "real" help since it was think as a fluke. So I decided to switch to the Exedy twin and it seem like the problem is gone, I was able to shift into 4th gear last time at the drag but I was not power shift it, i.e. I let the gas pedal up completely before shifting instead of holding 1/3 down like I used with the stock clutch. I'll go to the drag again on the 24th and this time will do power-shift to get into the 11s (was 12.2 / 123 mph) and see if the lock out problem is really gone.

I'm not saying that ACT is bad clutch, in fact, it's a very good one that fell like stock and perfectly on the street. But I'm one of those like the drag and track and believe the ACT is capable for it due to its higher torque handling than stock. It's also a very good price for its performance.

I have all two ACT clutches that I took out in my garage and I will take it to ACT or RRE in hope to help them identify the problem if there's any. It may not be the clutch, let me find out this 24th at California Speedway. ACT contacted me regarding this problem but I was at Microsoft the last few days so I was not able to get back but I will tomorrow.

 

Does anyone think still that this is an exclusive problem to ACT? Or do we agree that this happens with single disc stock based clutches in general (including the stock clutch)?

Is Dirk then the the evil one (along with me for reselling them) or is Exedy and ultimately Mitsubishi at fault if this is happening to other clutches also?

Someone with more time than I can make a list of the incredible number of screen names that are having troubles and I'll find the number of ACTs sold.

I have said that _I_ can adjust them sucessfully and am eagerly awaiting for one that I can not fix by adjusting so we can pull a tranny and dig into it deeper. If any of you can somehow limp your non shifting single disc EVO to my shop, I will try the adjusting it for no charge.

Mike W

 

Mike,
Thanks for trudging in here and trying to help. There are a lot of folks reading (like me) that really appreciate your input.

BTW, the Quaife still rocks. As Robi would say, "check the sig."

 

No, this is not exclusive to ACT from what I found out from racers at the dragstrip. I asked several racers when I was at Fontana the last time out and they had ACT's, RR No Name , ClutchMasters, all were complaining about the lock out issues at high RPM only. I have a Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch in my Evo and have the same issues. I've had 2 Dual Friction Clutches in my Talon AWD and never ever had this lock out problem, I was able top also shift very fast in each gear and power shift on occasion. I was able to get my Evo's Centerforce to shift into high RPM only after I adjusted the rod to the very end of it's adjustment and switching over to Pennzoil Synchromesh fluid. An aftermarket clutch line without the restrictor greatly improved the clutch feel also. But even after all this, I still cannot shift as fast as I used to. I have have to "baby" my shifts into each gear or else I get locked out at high RPM. This has really taken the fun out of racing.

 

Oh, BTW I never had this issue with my stock Evo clutch. I was able to shift very fast as well as powershift with no problems what so ever. I think there seems to be an issue with these aftermarket single disk designs. Way too many people are having the same problems. This can't just be a coincidence.

 

Btw Mike,

You are the f$%%King MAN!! This is why I have thru the years bought from you. In the DSM community you are always willing to help, even to those that have never bought from you, specially the cry babies. And once again you are going out of your way to help, and even though you aren't going to get a dime for it, you still help out.

Everyone on this thread and should say a bit of thanks for a man that is deticated to helping ppl.

I've said it before......Thanks Mike ,
Joey

 

I still say it's any issue with either the ACT clutch or pressure plate.
strange how ACT hasnt answered or even given a reply to this thread. Normally they are on all the clutch threads.

anyways my RPS twin is being installed as we speak so i should be getting back the car later today. Will let u guys know if i still have the problem

 

IT could be all single disks, but that doesn't change anything. I bought an ACT, and most of us buy ACTs, although that will probably change now. I wish I was near enough to come by, but I'm on the East Coast. It sounds like there is no solution other than getting a stock clutch or a rattling twin disk once the band-aid fix (pedal adjustment) is no longer effective, but I will find that out myself in the near future.

 

i NEVER (see: NEVER) had a problem whatsoever with the stock clutch. I was never locked out, or so much as grinded a gear. I put the ACT in, BOOM, grinds-lockouts-can't shift.

Now, i would imagine ACT is probably the most popular single disc clutch in the EVO market. So, naturally, if the problem is with all single disc clutches we are going to see more of them be ACT related. I have not seen definative proof that it is all single disc clutches though, atleast not yet.

I do think that adjusting the pedal works to some degree, but i also believe this to be a bandaid fix. There is still some MAJOR notchy shifting with this clutch above 7k even if it does go into gear, absoloutly nothing smooth about it.

I just don't think this clutch is for anyone performance bred who drives this car at its limits.

 

I do not think it is specific to single discs. I believe it has much to do with unit weight and about 20% miscalibration of the engagement point by installers and/or users. Stock clutch seems to have less of a problem in this department with some weight placed on the factory engagement points being set by the "factory" to start with.

There are some mods that users can do to reduce the chances of issues which have been stated earlier in the thread.

 

And ACT is now making stock clutches too it seems. Funny how everyone blames the warranty problem with syncros if it is a stock clutch.

Mike W

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PSIbabi21

2nd gear lockout/4th gear light grind? Today, 08:21 AM #1

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Ok, my car is starting to **** me off a bit....when shifting at high rpms like 7k from 1st to 2nd my car sometimes locks me out its not because i'm misshifting it literally feels like my shifter is hitting a brick wall, no grind no nothing. I'm on a stock clutch with 29k miles. Any idea what could cause this? If it has something to do with worn out syncros any idea how I can explain it to the dealer so they can fix it without telling them only when I shift at 7000? haha...oopse

Second,
I've noticed when shifting at high rpms from 3rd to 4th i get a light grind...never does it daily driving only when im shifting hard, but when im shifting high it does it EVERYTIME....it's not really loud it's just you can feel it. Anyone have similar issues??

Thanks...

ps. i searched first and found a few things similar but all were related to aftermarket clutches...

 

ok, thats ONE example. Im telling you, i did NOT have that problem unitl THE FREAKING DAY that i switched to the ACT clutch...granted, its not as bad once the engagement spot was adjusted out, its still there though but not as bad or as often.

Point is, can't shift as fast as stock...NO MATTER WHAT.

 

Same with me. I was a shifting machine with the stock clutch. In a bracket race, i ran 7 straight 12.2-12.3 runs without missing a single shift back when i was on the cat-back. I emphasize the cat-back part, because I didn't realize how much of a difference my shifting speed was making until a few weeks ago on the ACT when I had a full TBE, 116oct, higher boost, cooler weather, and even more aggressive tuning with the S-AFC, yet I only ran a 12.67 at 107 with no missed shifts. Same track, same 60', but one difference - a clutch that won't allow me to shift hard/fast at high rpm. Losing half a second and 4-5 mph is disturbing after spending so much money to have a new clutch installed...

I'm actually considering a switch back to the stock clutch...it's single disk, yet somehow doesn't have this lockout problem. I see that one example, but I never experienced it and don't know anyone who ever has, nor have I seen any other example of anyone having that problem...

 

All that hard-earned credibility on EvoM...out the window with one sentence